causes and types of sexually transmitted diseases

Sexually transmitted diseases (STD) are diseases that are normally transmitted through sexual intercourse. They are also called veneral diseases named after the greek god of love Venus.

These diseases are spreading rapidly and 85% of the cases involve individuals between the ages of 15 and 30.

Some of the causes for the spread of STD are listed below

• The sexual activity among teenagers is on the increase
• Many people are unaware of having the disease untill it is in the advanced stage and thus , transmit it unknowingly.
• When individuals discover that they have the disease . they fail to inform their sexual partners, although they are required by the law to do so.

• The symptoms of some STD's are not easy to detect , especially in females . In some cases , the symptoms disappear temporarily , fooling the individual into thinking he or she is cured.

There are three main sexually transmitted diseases. They are Gonorrhoea, AIDS,and syphillis.

Gonorrhoea-

It is an infection of the genito-urinary tract . It is sexually transmitted disease and is one of the most widespread communicable disease known to man. Generally if a woman is infected, there's a good chance of not knowing as they experience symptoms only after the disease has done serious damage. But if it is a man, about 95% of them develop symptoms within a few days or weeks. These infections have now arisen by the emergence of more strains of N. gonorrhoea that are resistant to multiple antibiotics.

Syphillis-

It is a sexually transmitted disease and is a widespread communicable disease known to man. The increase in the number of people having the disease is attributed to a lack of education about the disease as well as to a rise in the number of prostitutes having unprotected sex.

AIDS-

It is a collection of disease due to break down of the immune system. The most common mode of acquiring AIDS is when the recipient's blood comes in contact with infected blood or seminal fluid.

The mode of infection are -

• Mainly through sexual contact , particularly among homosexuals when blood or semen of an infected person comes in contact with the tissue fluids of the partner
• Through intravenous drug abusers who share contaminated syringes.
• Through infected blood during blood transfusion and unsterilized syringes.
• Through transfusion of blood products for replacement therapy during surgery
• It is also transmitted from infected mother to infant

Treatment-

Generally there is neither a specific treatment nor an effective vaccine for prevention. In the past few years , new combinations of drugs have only effectively slowed the progress of AIDS and markedly decreased the number of deaths in U.S and a few other developed countries. A group of drugs called viristatic-drugs like AZT(Azidothymidine) and interferons have been used. These drugs do not destroy the HIV viruses but stop their multiplication and growth and give temporary relief. But, the patients tend to develop resistance to all these drugs and as HIV mutates at a very fast rate multiple drugs may be necessary. The use of these drugs can prolong the survival of the AIDS patient. However, these drugs are very expensive , limiting their use to the richer countries . Further more, some patients cannot tolerate the side effects of the drugs.

Several tests are employed to identify the presence of HIV in blood . One of them is Eliza'a test i.e Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assayor by Western Blot techniques. These tests indicate the presencce of antibodies against HIV in an infected person.

Preventive measures of Gonorrhoea, syphillis, AIDS

• Sex with single partner
• Usage of condom during sexual intercourse
• Education about the routes of infection ,modes of transmission and method of protection against infection should be emphasized.